102 VETBEINAEY MATERIA MEDICA. 



Stbophanthus. 



The seeds of Strophanthus hispidus (natural order 

 ApocynacesB), an African climbing plant, from which 

 the natives prepare a deadly arrow poison known as 

 kombe. It contains from eight to ten per cent, of 

 strophanthin, a crystalline glucoside, which is its ac- 

 tive principle. 



Pebparations. — Tinctura Strophanti (five per 

 cent.), tincture of strophanthus. Dose: H.,fl. 3i.- 

 ij.; D., TH i.-v. 



Strophanthinum, strophanthin. Dose: H., gr. 



1 1. 'n CT-r 1 1 



TXTT) ■L'-) gr- 120 6Tr- 



Physiological Action. — Strophanthus acts very 

 energetically upon muscular tissues, increasing the 

 contractile power of all striped muscle. Its action 

 is brought about by direct contact through the blood, 

 and consequently, as the heart receives more blood 

 than any other part of the organism, it is rapidly and 

 strongly affected by doses too small to show much 

 effect elsewhere ; for this reason small doses stimulate 

 the heart's contractions and lower the rate of the 

 heart beats; at the same time blood pressure is raised 

 and diuresis is produced. Large doses paralyze the 

 heart, and if this has once taken place there is no 

 way of relief, as the heart becomes so contracted as to 

 seem almost of the rigidity of stone. Strophanthus 

 is the most powerful and most rapid heart stimulant 

 known, being much more powerful than digitalis, 

 from which it differs in that it does not cause any 



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